Two weeks remain in the Super Rugby Pacific regular season and there is still plenty to play for with just about every team.

Five finals spots have been decided but none are locked into their seeding just yet, with the Blues and Hurricanes set to take the minor premiership race down to the wire.

The Brumbies and Chiefs are guaranteed to finish in the top four and get a home Quarter Final but we are yet to know in what order.

In Queensland the Reds will be looking to secure fifth spot on the back of their disappointing loss in Fiji last week.

While the Rebels, Highlanders, Drua, Force and even Crusaders are still vying for the final three spots.

Read on for our game previews and best bets for all six Super Rugby Round 14 fixtures below.

This game is essentially a free hit for the Chiefs, who can only move up on the Super Rugby ladder over the final fortnight of the regular season.

It is the Hurricanes facing all the pressure after their perfect start ground to a halt in the last month.

Having begun the season with eight straight wins, the Canes have gone 2-2 with both defeats coming on the road against a fellow top four opponent.

They have to win here to keep the pressure on the Blues in the battle for top spot, but their recent wobbles are a real concern.

I’m expecting a tight finish in Waikato but the Chiefs have been playing very well at home and should find a way to edge past the Hurricanes.

Chiefs to Win by 1-12 Points @ $2.90

Coming off one of the most bizarre wins in Super Rugby history, the Brumbies will continue their charge towards a top two finish when they host the Rebels on Friday night.

Quite a lot has changed for the visitors since they were trounced by the Brumbies back in Round 2, and they are hoping to close out the season with a flourish.

Despite losing four straight, the Rebels have given the Reds and Chiefs all they can handle in the last fortnight and this should be no different.

This line looks way too high, especially with the Brumbies last four wins all coming by single digit margins.

Rebels to Cover +14.5 @ $1.87

Technically both of these teams can make the finals, but let’s be realistic, Kazakhstan has a better chance of winning the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Both have endured miserable seasons with only one or two moments of joy and now they are sauntering towards the inevitable frustration of the offseason.

For the Waratahs it promises to be a period of change with this week’s announcement that coach Darren Coleman will be moved on, a move which has been coming for most of 2024.

Both of these teams have lost their last four and a lack of scoring has been a real issue.

I can’t back either of these teams with any real confidence and I’ll land on the under instead.

Under 58.5 Points @ $1.85

There is no good reason to back against the Blues at the moment, they are finishing the season on a tear and could lock up the top spot on the ladder here depending on the Hurricanes’ result.

Despite a 2-8 record against the Crusaders dating back to 2019, the Blues are justified favourites here, winning nine in a row, including a 26-6 victory in Auckland in March.

It really has not been the Crusaders’ season (for once) with the team finding unique ways to lose, including last week’s 80^th minute penalty try to go down to the Brumbies.

Their last three defeats have all been by a converted try or less and I’ll back the Blues to win a close game here.

Blues to Win by 1-12 @ $2.90

The Reds play their final home game of 2024 against the Force and depending on the Rebels result, may need to take maximum points from this one to secure a fifth place finish heading into the finals.

Last week’s loss in Fiji was less than ideal but also not entirely unexpected given the Drua’s vastly improved performances at home.

What should be concerning for the Reds though was the disciplinary issues that continued to pop up at the worst possible times.

However a return to familiar surroundings should be the remedy to some of those problems, or at least enough to get the desired outcome here.

Also working in their favour is the Force’s abysmal record on the road, losing their last seven and covering just twice in that run.

Since the Force’s re-entry in 2020, the Reds have won all four head to head games at Suncorp and I’m expecting them to take care of business on Saturday night.

Reds to Cover -13.5 @ $1.87

A Sunday afternoon Super Rugby game? At this time of year? In this phase of Lunar alignment?

Don’t mind if I do thank you very much.

The Highlanders and Drua should put on a show under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium with plenty of points on offer.

By now the Drua’s road woes are so well documented that their win over the Reds last week can’t really be factored into the analysis for this game.

Either way I’m staying out of the head to head and taking the over with both teams more than capable of piling on the points and somewhat suspect defensively.

Over 55.5 Points @ $1.87

2024

It’s the penultimate round of the Super Rugby regular season and we’ve got two finals spots still up for grabs.

The action kicks off on Friday with a massive clash between the Reds and Highlanders in Dunedin with the visitors able to lock up their playoff spot with a win.

Saturday’s quadruple header kicks off in Fiji with the Drua still a chance of sneaking into the finals picture while at the top of the table the Chiefs can officially clinch the minor premiership with a Crusaders loss or if the far more likely scenario unfolds where they record a win in Canberra.

Read on to see who we are backing in Super Rugby Round 14 with our previews and best bets below.

The equation facing the Reds is quite simple, win one of their last two games and they will be in the finals, but the task facing them this weekend is far from easy.

Even though the Highlanders are a shell of their former selves, they have the confidence of winning their last five against the Reds and last lost to them at home in March 2013.

Not to mention the Reds fell off in a big way in the second half against the Blues last week after a competitive first half.

What swings this tip though is the fact the Highlanders really are not a good team this season and this is a much more even battle than the market would suggest.

Plus the Reds have gone an impressive 6-1 against the line away from home in their last seven games and this is actually a much better opportunity to win than next week in Fiji.

Reds to Cover +4.5 @ $1.91

After last week’s impressive win over the rotated Brumbies pushed them up into eighth place, the Force will be out to make it three in a row for the first time since the Australian tournament in 2021.

Perhaps the biggest concern for the Force is the fact they have lost all six of their away games this season, although in their defence they have endured a pretty tough travel schedule.

Four of those defeats have come in New Zealand and their domestic defeats have come at the hands of the Reds and Waratahs.

On their day they have looked like a much better side than the Rebels, whose finals hopes are now firmly in the “very optimistic” category and their main motivator now is to play spoiler.

In a vacuum the Force should be favoured over a Rebels side that has failed to inspire this season and the Perth side have had the better of recent matchups.

The Force have won three of the last four including a pair of games in Melbourne and they look like a much better shot than their current quote.

Force to Win @ $2.88

It’s a pretty simple equation for the early game on Saturday afternoon with the Drua desperate to keep their finals hopes alive.

Regardless of how Friday’s games play out, they have to pick up a win over the 0-12 Moana Pasifika and ideally add on a bonus point in the process.

Thankfully for them their last two games are at home and they go to a very different level when playing in front of their fans.

A 3-1 record at home is impressive for any team in just their second season of existence, but knocking off top five sides the Hurricanes and Crusaders shows just how strong that advantage is.

Add in the fact that Moana Pasifika have been nothing short of atrocious this season picking up just three losing bonus points and are coming off an awful performance in their 34 point loss to the Crusaders.

We will see just how far apart these two expansion sides are two years into their respective existences.

Drua to Cover -13.5 @ $1.83

While the Waratahs can mathematically climb up the ladder into fifth or even fourth spot over the final fortnight, it seems incredibly unlikely that they will win both of their remaining games.

Working in their favour however is the fact they have taken advantage of a pretty soft run of fixtures to generate some momentum and win their last four games.

That run should come to a screeching halt this week though with the Crusaders are finally starting to find some form at the most important time of the year.

Currently riding a three game winning streak, with a couple of big wins over weaker opponents bookending a statement victory over the Blues, it has been a nice reminder about why the Crusaders are the specialists at this time of year.

While it would take the team bus breaking down and the Crusaders missing kickoff to give the Waratahs a faint hope of winning this game, the visitors are more than capable of playing this one close and avoiding getting blown out.

A 23.5 point line is massive, especially when you consider the Tahs have not lost by more than 18 points in Christchurch in the last 13 years and are averaging a 10.3 margin of defeat.

Waratahs to Cover +23.5 @ $1.91

When the Blues hit the accelerator, there are few teams in Super Rugby that can keep up with them.

On the back of a vintage Beauden Barrett display they ran away with a 19 point win in Brisbane last weekend to climb back into the top four and they will be desperate to hold onto that spot against the Hurricanes this weekend.

The Blues recorded a six point victory when they met in March and with the Canes coming to Eden Park on the back of three losses in their last five matches, this could end the top four race this weekend.

With the Hurricanes starting to stumble down the line, I’m happy to take them on and back the Blues to win and cover.

Blues to Cover -4.5 @ $1.83

Just when it was all shaping up nicely for the Brumbies, they sent a severely weakened squad to Perth last weekend and it backfired in the worst possible way.

Not only did they lose to a struggling opponent, but they cost themselves a potential home semi final by dropping down to third place ahead of this clash with the minor-premiers elect.

With the Chiefs now firmly in ramp-up mode ahead of the finals, expect them to hit the ground running in Canberra and ensure that they will have home ground advantage throughout the Super Rugby Finals.

Chiefs to Cover -3.5 @ $1.91

2022

We’re into the penultimate round of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific competition and we’ve got the finals picture still unfolding before our eyes.

It’s a three horse race at the top with two of those sides, the Brumbies and Blues facing off in a possible Grand Final preview on Saturday night.

We’re previewing every game this weekend, plus the catch up between the Force and Moana Pasifika below so read on and see who we are backing.

Just going off the Drua’s last two games, chances are this is going to be closer to the 67-5 hammering they were on the wrong end of from the Hurricanes than the 34-19 win over Moana Pasifika last week.

While the Crusaders might not have been at their ruthless best throughout the season, they have shown plenty in the last two weeks, belting the Force in Perth and outlasting the Brumbies in Canberra.

A 30 point handicap is a massive ask for the Crusaders to cover, however there is a case to be made that they are playing themselves into form and the Drua have emptied the bullets in their chamber to get that win over their fellow recent additions to the competition.

They won’t roll over and make life easy on the Crusaders but this is a massive mismatch and I’ll give the benefit of the doubt to the side chasing second spot.

Back the Crusaders to Cover -30.5 @ $1.90

Heading into this game on a four game losing streak, the Reds simply have to break that run of poor results this weekend.

Injuries have prevented them from competing at the level the talent on paper suggests they could, especially with a depleted forward pack headlined by the absence of Taniela Tupou.

In all four of their recent defeats they have shown moments of real quality and as long as they can string enough of those together they should handle this opponent.

Their win over the Fijian Drua at this venue in March does make me a little bit nervous taking the Reds with such a big handicap however.

In that game they flew out of the blocks, took their foot off the accelerator and let the Drua back into it to cover the line there.

While they could desperately use a bonus point win here, it’s tough to back them to put together a full 80 minute performance at the moment and there is every chance Moana Pasifika will keep it close.

Back Moana Pasifika to Cover +17.5 @ $1.90

Let’s not overcomplicate this one, it won’t be a competitive game, the Chiefs should run away with it in every sense of the word.

In the last two weeks, the Force have lost by a combined margin of 89 points against the Highlanders and Crusaders, with the most recent 51 point defeat coming on the South Island.

Knowing they need a bonus point win for finals positioning and having had a bit of a wake up call in Melbourne last week, there is no chance of the Chiefs taking this one lightly.

If they are really on their game, they could have this line covered by half time.

Back the Chiefs to Cover -24.5 @ $1.90

It’s hard to see the Rebels being able to bounce back from arguably their best shot at recording a win over New Zealand opposition in a long time.

Despite being in touching distance of the Chiefs last week, they fell on a try after the siren and a defeat such as that will leave a mark on anyone’s psyche.

On the other side of the equation, the Hurricanes have won their last three at home and look like they have found some direction after struggling through the early part of the season.

There is also a chance the Rebels are looking forward to their holidays with finals now all but mathematically out of reach so this could get ugly.

Back the Hurricanes to Cover -18.5 @ $1.90

At least in the final two games of the weekend, we can offer a little bit of positivity about the Australian sides.

For starters this game has the smallest line of the weekend and it makes sense, because it’s a top of the table clash (until the Crusaders play anyway) and a chance for the Brumbies to further cement themselves as a legitimate title threat.

Losing to the Crusaders last week was definitely not what they would have wanted, but that should help them prepare for their toughest test of the season.

There is only one way they will be able to match the Blues and it will involve going for broke in attack against the most dangerous scoring team in Super Rugby Pacific.

While many joke that their only way over the tryline is with a rolling maul, they do have the versatility to get after the Blues a number of different ways and at home, they will be in with a chance.

Back the Brumbies to Cover +7.5 @ $1.90

It was a welcome return home for the Highlanders last week after almost a month in Australia, belting the Force 61-10.

Still optimistically chasing a home final, the Waratahs will have to shake off a last start defeat against the Hurricanes and try to get by what is without a doubt the most vulnerable of the New Zealand sides.

Three of the Hurricanes four wins have come in the last three weeks to vault them into finals contention, but if the Waratahs play to the level they have shown at times this season, they are every chance of an upset.

While a win in Dunedin might be a touch optimistic at anything under $4, a 9.5 point head start is enough for the Waratahs here.

Back the Waratahs to Cover +9.5 @ $1.90

Just over four weeks after it was initially postponed from the Super Round, Moana Pasifika and the Western Force will face off at the new venue of Mt Smart Stadium.

In terms of form lines, it’s actually a very even contest with both teams on a seven game losing streak.

Moana Pasifika’s extra day of preparation will be slightly negated by the fact they have had to fly back from Brisbane while the Force were in New Zealand for their weekend defeat at the hands of the Chiefs.

Despite their long run without a victory, Moana’s resolve has not dissipated whereas some questions have to be asked of the Force and what their mindset is at the moment.

It really is a toss up and in a clash between two bad sides, take the home team.

Back Moana Pasifika to Win @ $2.20

2021

Super Rugby Trans Tasman Round 2

Round 1 of Super Rugby Trans Tasman was a Kiwi procession with the Super Rugby Aotearoa teams going a perfect five for five over their Australian rivals.

Some games were not close, others produced thoroughly entertaining contests and now we prepare for Round 2 this coming weekend.

We are in for arguably the biggest game of the season at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night as the Reds take on the Crusaders.

Read on and see who we are backing in every Super Rugby Trans Tasman game below.

The Rebels just gave up 50 points at home against the Blues and now head to Wellington to take on a Hurricanes side that has scored 105 points over its last two matches.

If you were wondering why the line for this game is at -25.5, that should explain it.

Short of the entire Hurricanes squad having their cars breaking down being unable to make it to the venue on Friday, there is no line big enough to back the Rebels in any context.

Back the Hurricanes to Cover -25.5 @ $1.91

We saw just how tough a trip from New Zealand to Perth can be last week when the Chiefs barely escaped the west with a one point win over the Force.

If the home side can reproduce that level of grit and tenacity in this game, I give them every chance of getting by a hot and cold Highlanders side.

Considering they took on a heavily rotated Reds side still feeling the effects of their Super Rugby AU title celebrations, it was not exactly encouraging they only really pulled away in the final 10 minutes of that game.

Taking the Force at $4.00 outright seems awfully tempting but the 11 point head start gives a nice level of insurance.

Back the Western Force to Cover +11.5 @ $1.91

This may not be the biggest mismatch in Super Rugby history, but it’s pretty close to it and all signs are pointing to a monumental blowout.

The Blues cruised by the hapless Rebels by 47 points last week and the Waratahs are a level blow the Melbourne based side.

On the plus side the Tahs did score 48 points last weekend, unfortunately they gave up 64 to the Hurricanes.

That was the fourth time they have conceded at least 40 points and this weekend could see them give up 60 for the third time in 2021.

A five converted try head start should be dealt with by half time as the Blues put on a clinic at Eden Park.

Back the Blues to Cover -34.5 @ $1.91

Any concerns about the Brumbies not being up for the challenge of Super Rugbt Trans Tasman were allayed in their gallant defeat to the Crusaders last week.

Things don’t get any easier for the men from Canberra this weekend against the other Super Rugby Aotearoa finalist, the Chiefs.

On the plus side, they will have a much shorter trip to this match than the Chiefs with the latter having to fly back from Perth.

The Brumbies are good enough to play this match on their terms, which is a low scoring, grind of a game and if they do that, they will give themselves a chance of an upset.

Back the Brumbies to Cover +8.5 @ $1.91

The Champions of Australia take on the Champions on New Zealand in a winner takes all… four or five points.

I’m willing to forgive and forget the Reds 21-point loss in Dunedin last Friday with a heavily rotated squad falling short.

That was done in part with an eye on having the players firing for this marquee fixture at home.

Even though they won the Super Rugby Aotearoa tournament, it’s fair to say the Crusaders are not crushing opponents the way we are used to.

With a vocal home crowd at their backs, I’ll take the Reds at their current price to not only run the Crusaders close, but spring an upset.

Back the Reds to Win @ $4.00

2020

*MATCHES CANCELLED*

2019

Just five weeks remain in the Super Rugby season and all bar one team is still in the race for a finals berth.

Sitting 16 points adrift of eighth place, you can probably put a line through the Sunwolves chances.

Just eight points separate the third placed Sharks from the 14^th placed Blues so there’s plenty to play for all across the table.

We have previewed all six Super Rugby Round 14 fixtures right here and found our betting plays for those games so read on and see who we are backing here.

The Jaguares were brought back to earth by the Highlanders last week, ending their four game winning run.

The Canes extended their winning run to five with a scrappy win over the Blues in Auckland last week to firm their grip on the top wild card spot.

Outside of belting the Chiefs by 28, most of the wins in this streak have been tight games, with the other four being decided by 10 points or less.

The Jaguares have played plenty of close encounters lately too and 15.5 is way too big of a line for me to feel confident taking the Hurricanes so instead I’ll back them in for a close win at a good value price.

Back the Hurricanes to by 1-12 @ $3.25

The Rebels had to scrap against the Reds last weekend, that win looking even more impressive when you consider Quade Cooper was taken off with a concussion.

After going through the standard tests, the mercurial playmaker will be back in the lineup this weekend as they host a Bulls side that they are level on points with.

Having given up the conference lead to the Brumbies this weekend they can retake top spot with a game in hand and put some further distance between themselves and the Brumbies who are on a bye and the loser of the Reds-Waratahs clash in Brisbane.

The Bulls haven’t travelled well losing five of their last seven away games which is probably why they are underdogs here.

It’s hard to have a lot of faith in the Rebels here but backing the Bulls on the road honestly scares me more so I’ll take the home side to cover a short line here.

Back the Rebels to Cover -7.5 @ $1.90

The Blues have closed the gap between themselves and the rest of the New Zealand conference but still somehow find themselves stuck on the bottom of the group.

That could change here as they take on a Chiefs side they trail by just two points this weekend.

While they were quite poor last weekend against the Hurricanes as they lost their fourth straight game, their home record is still quite good this year with four wins and losses to the Crusaders and Canes.

It is unlikely they will get a better chance than this to end a winless run against the Chiefs that stretches back to the early part of this decade.

For this game, the question is do you want to take a small handicap or back the Blues at a short price to win outright.

In this instance, I’ll take the home crowd to get them not only over the line, but help them cover against a side they played very close at FMG Stadium a month ago.

Back the Blues to Cover -4.5 @ $1.90

It’s been almost six years and ten Super Rugby matches since the Reds last beat the Waratahs.

For Brad Thorn and his side, any margin of victory will do and since they are even money underdogs, that approach will apply for the punters who backed them as well.

They are working on building Suncorp Stadium into a fortress and have beaten the Brumbies, Sunwolves and Stormers at home already this season.

Since their loss to the Waratahs at the SCG in March, they have gone on a 5-3 run and I like them at that price to back them in for a win with some confidence.

Back the Reds to Win @ $2.00

The Highlanders look like they are out of their rough patch going on a four game unbeaten run (which does include a draw with the Chiefs) but they now have to go on tour as they try to pull away from the chasing pack in the wild card race.

It could be tricky though with the home side winning seven of the last eight meetings between the two teams and the Highlanders winning going 3-7 in their last 10 away games.

The Lions on the other hand have been pretty good at home lately going 7-2 in their last nine home games with five of those wins coming by eight or more points.

If there’s one lesson to take from this Super Rugby season it’s that the logical play might not be the right one but I’m going to stick with the logic here and back the Lions to win at home.

Back the Lions to Win @ $1.90

Speaking of logic, that suggests the Crusaders, who are really good, should handily beat the Stormers, who might be good themselves, but just aren’t at that level.

While the home side desperately needs a win to keep pace with the rest of the conference, this is one of those games that screams “scheduled loss at the start of the season”

13 of the Crusaders last 16 wins have been by 13 or more points and with a line hovering around that two converted try mark, have to like the side rounding into form to take this one out.

Back the Crusaders to Cover -13.5 @ $1.90

2018

It is fair to say that the last weekend was not a positive one for Australian Rugby.

The Reds hit a new low with a humiliating 63-28 defeat at the hands of the Sunwolves and that was followed up by the Waratahs losing to the Crusaders after leading 29-0.

It doesn’t get any easier for both these sides this weekend, while the Brumbies head to South Africa for a clash with the Lions.

We have analysed every game set to take place in Super Rugby this weekend and our complete Super Rugby Round 14 tips can be found below.

Ballymore would not have been a fun place this week after the Reds were humbled by the previously winless Sunwolves in Japan.

The Hurricanes blitzed the Blues in Auckland last week to extend their competition best winning streak out to nine games, the only thing keeping them off the top of the table is the extra bye they have had compared to the Crusaders.

There is only one realistic outcome for this game and the line is where the play should be, however with it sitting at 26.5 that is in that middle ground that is worth steering clear of.

NO BET

It had to come sooner or later and the Sunwolves finally got their first win of the season and didn’t they play well in that game.

A trip to Hong Kong for this home game against the struggling Stormers who travel from New Zealand after losing to the Chiefs.

What cannot be ignored however is the fact their defence is still leaking points at an alarming rate, even in their win, a struggling Reds attack still put 28 on the board.

That number did bring their average points allowed below 40 per game though.

As much fun as a Sunwolves winning streak would be, the Stormers have the quality to take care of business and comfortable win here.

Back the Stormers to Cover the Line (-10.5) @ $1.91

After coming back from an early 29-0 deficit against the Waratahs, the Crusaders must be feeling borderline invincible as they head into this clash with the Blues.

They will not be able to afford a similar run of mistakes against the Blues and leave them needing another miracle comeback this weekend.

It has been a long time between drinks for the Auckland side, losing their last six against the Crusaders and their record of two wins from their last eight games suggest that streak is not going to end this weekend.

Back the Crusaders to Cover the Line (-11.5)

So close yet oh so far, the Waratahs have been in the mix late against the Blues and Crusaders in the past two weeks but have not been able to pull a win out.

While the bonus points from those two games would have provided little comfort ahead of this game, they return to Allianz Stadium for the first time in almost a month, where they were shut out by the Lions.

The Highlanders have won their last four games against New South Wales however their last game in Sydney in 2016 was a tight affair.

Every week has an unexpectedly tight game and this is my pick for the week as the Waratahs find themselves with a chance late on for the third week in a row.

Back the Waratahs to Cover the Line (+5.5) @ $1.91

An early check of the line gives the surprising sight of the Chiefs as underdogs however they will go into this game missing 20 first team players through injury and a national team camp bizarrely scheduled for the middle of the Super Rugby competition.

That should boost the Sharks confidence significantly however such is the depth of New Zealand rugby that it is only a 4.5 point line.

After losing a back and forth tussle to the Bulls last weekend the Sharks are back to the pack when it comes to the finals picture.

While the replacement Chiefs will give the Sharks a good run out, the home side is the safe play here.

Back the Sharks to Cover the Line (-4.5) @ $1.91

Whatever momentum the Lions had built up was brought to a screeching halt during their trip to Australia and New Zealand with three straight losses bringing them back to the pack.

After that run they will be very happy to be back home and facing a Brumbies side with a longer losing streak than they have.

This is the Brumbies first trip to Emirates Airlines Park since 2015 however they have won on their last two visits.

The Lions won a low scoring slug fest in Canberra last year but this game should have plenty more points in it as the likes of Elton Jantjies look to be unleashed here.

Back the Lions to Cover the Line (-16.5) @ $1.91

Don’t look now but the Jaguares are putting together a good run of form and are surging up the table.

Four wins in a row, all away from home and they are not dreaming of a finals appearance ahead of this clash with the Bulls.

This will be just the third meeting between these sides with the first two being won by the home side on both occasions.

In terms of the finals positioning a big win for either side will go down very well with the teams tied on 24 points so far with just a handful of games remaining.

In this instance the home side is the play here as they are just in remarkable form.

Back the Jaguares to Cover the Line (-4.5) @ $1.91

2017

This is the final complete round of Super Rugby action before the midseason break for international fixtures.

The Brumbies ended the horror run of Australian Super Rugby sides when they beat the Kings last weekend, but it does not get any easier for the likes of the Waratahs and the Rebels this weekend.

We have analysed every game of the weekend and you can find our complete 2017 Super Rugby Round 14 tips below.

The Chiefs have dominated the Blues in recent years and they will go into this clash as clear favourites.

The Chiefs had their winning run ended by the Crusaders last weekend, but they were far from disgraced and still look to be one of the best sides in Super Rugby.

In saying that, the Chiefs have been far from the most reliable betting side in the competition – they have won five of their past seven games as home favourites, but they are only 2-5 against the line in this scenario.

The Blues went down to the Stormers last weekend and this will be another key test of where they are at as a side.

They have won one of their past three games as home underdogs, but they are 3-0 against the line in this scenario and have not been disgraced in any of their games this season.

This should be a fairly evenly-matched affair and the Blues are a good bet to cover the line with a start of 4.5 points.

Back The Blues To Beat The Line (+4.5 Points)

This is a crucial game for both the Reds and the Force.

The Force recorded an upset win over the Reds in Perth earlier this season, but it is the Reds that will go into this clash as clear favourites.

The Reds went into the bye on the back of a win over the Rebels, but they continue to be a very tough team to trust from a betting standpoint.

They have won only two of their past four games as home favourites and they have failed to cover the line in their past four games in this scenario.

The Force produced one of their worst performances of the season against the Highlanders last weekend, but this is obviously a much easier challenge.

Winning away from home has been a big issue for the Force, but they are 6-3 against the line as away underdogs.

There is not as much between these two teams as the current betting market suggests and the Force can cover the line with a start of 5.5 points.

Back The Force To Beat The Line (+5.5 Points)

This may be the best chance the Sunwolves have to win another game this season, but it is still the Cheetahs that will start this game as narrow favourites.

The Cheetahs really have struggled in Super Rugby this season and they were absolutely no match for a rampant Hurricanes last weekend.

They have won their only two previous games as favourites this season, but they have won only one of their past 14 games away from home.

The Sunwolves continue to play credible rugby without winning and they fancy their chances of beating the Cheetahs this weekend.

They have won one of their past five games as home underdogs for a narrow profit, but they are only 2-3 against the line in this scenario.

This is a game that the market looks to have got just about right and I am more than happy to stay out from a betting standpoint.

No Bet

The Highlanders continued on their winning ways last weekend and they are dominant favourites to account for the Waratahs.

While the Highlanders have won eight games on the trot, they have still not been a particularly profitable side from a betting standpoint – they are 5-2 as home favourites and 3-4 against the line in this scenario.

The Waratahs returned to winning form with a victory over the Rebels last weekend, but this is obviously a much tougher challenge.

They have won only one of their past five games as away underdogs and they are 2-3 against the line in this scenario.

The Highlanders really should be able to get the job done in this clash, but there is no value at their current price and this is another game that I am happy to stay out of.

No Bet

The Crusaders are the shortest-priced favourites in Super Rugby this weekend and they really should prove far too strong for the Rebels.

The Crusaders maintained their unbeaten start to the season with their win over the Chiefs and the Super Rugby title really does look likes their’s to lose.

They have won six of their past seven games as away favourites and they are a profitable 4-3 against the line in this scenario.

The Rebels suffered their fourth loss on the trot against the Waratahs last weekend and they look like a side that is mentally finished with this season.

They have won only one of their past seven games as home underdogs and they are a poor 2-5 against the line in this scenario.

Another massive win for the Crusaders looks likely and they can cover the big line of 24.5 points in the process.

Back The Crusaders To Beat The Line (-24.5 Points)

The Hurricanes head to South Africa on the back of a big win over the Cheetahs and they are clear favourites to beat the struggling Bulls.

The Chiefs and the Crusaders remain the only teams to beat the Hurricanes this season and that does not look like changing this weekend.

They have won three of their past four games as away favourites, but they are only 2-2 against the line in this scenario.

The Bulls suffered their third loss in a row when they were flogged by the Lions last weekend and it really doesn’t get any easier for them.

Winning as underdogs has proven impossible for the Bulls this season and their record against the line in this scenario isn’t much better.

This is another game where it is tough to find any real betting value.

No Bet

This is one of the most interesting games of the weekend in Super Rugby.

The Sharks have had the upper hand over the Stormers in recent seasons and they will start this clash as narrow favourites.

Home favourtism is a position in which the Sharks have thrived – they have won six of their past seven games in this scenario – but they are only 3-4 against the line.

The Stormers ended their losing streak with a win over the Blues and they remain well and truly on top of the Africa 1 Division.

Winning as underdogs has proven to be an issue for the Stormers and they have lost their past three games as away underdogs.

The Sharks really should prove too good for the Stormers and they represent genuine value at their current price.

Back The Sharks To Win @ $1.73

Both the Jaguares and Brumbies have struggled in recent weeks and this is a crucial game for these two sides.

The Jaguares have the home ground advantage and they will go into this clash as narrow favourites.

The Argentine side have won only one of their past six games and while they have won six of their past eight games as home favourites, they are 3-5 against the line in this scenario.

The Brumbies ended their losing streak with a fighting win over the Kings and a win over the Jaguares would give them the clear upper hand in the Australian Conference.

They have won one of their past three games as away underdogs and they are 2-1 against the line in this scenario.

This really should be an even affair and the Brumbies are a good bet to cover the line with a start of 5.5 points.

Back The Brumbies To Beat The Line (+5.5 Points)

The Lions continued on their winning way with a dominant performance against the Bulls and they are clear favourites to beat the Kings this weekend.

The Lions are still one of the most reliable betting sides in all of Super Rugby Rugby and they have now won their last nine games as home favourites, while they are 6-3 against the line in this scenario.

The Kings had the biggest winning streak in their history ended by the Brumbies, but they were far from disgraced in the defeat.

The Kings have been right up there with the Lions as one of the best betting sides in Super Rugby this season.

They have won two of their past seven games as away underdogs for a sizeable profit and more impressively they are 7-0 against the line in this scenario.

The real betting value in this game is with the Over in the Total Points betting market.

Both these sides are capable of putting some big points on the board and backing the Over has been a profitable betting play in games involving either of these teams this season.

Back The Over

2016

This is the final round of the Super Rugby season before the break for the international Test Series between Australia and England, New Zealand and Wales and South Africa and Ireland.

The Hurricanes and Highlanders met in the Grand Final last year and are set to clash at Westpac Stadium on Friday afternoon before the Waratahs and Chiefs do battle in another potential final preview.

There are plenty of other key games across the rest of the week, but the highlight might be in the early hours of Sunday morning when the Bulls and the Lions clash at Loftus Versfeld.

This is a rematch of the 2016 Super Rugby final, which was won by the Highlanders in a big upset.

Both these teams will go into this crucial fixture on the back of the bye and it is the Hurricanes who will go into this game as favourites, despite losing two of their past four games.

The Hurricanes have won six of their past eight games as home favourites, but they have still been a losing betting proposition, while they are 4-4 against the line in this scenario.

The Highlanders will be chasing their fourth straight win following impressive performances against the Brumbies, Chiefs and Crusaders, which makes them the form team of the competition.

They continue to thrive as underdogs and they have won four of their past five games when giving away a start and they also have an excellent record against the line.

Backing the Highlanders as underdogs has been a highly profitable play for the past 12 months and I am keen to throw my support behind them again.

Recommended Bet: Back The Highlanders To Win @ $2

This is another crucial game as both sides need to win to retain their place at the top of their respective conferences.

The Waratahs had their winning streak ended by the Crusaders last weekend and they really did seem to struggle without Kurtley Beale in the side.

This will be just the second game at home they have started as underdogs in the past 12 months, but they are 1-3 overall as underdogs and have the same record against the line.

The Chiefs proved far too strong for the Rebels last weekend and they have now won seven of their past eight games.

Their record as away favourites is a perfect 2-0 and they have beaten the line in both of these fixtures.

I expect the Chiefs to be far too strong for the Waratahs and they can cover the line of 3.5 points comfortably.

Recommended Bet: Back The Chiefs To Beat The Line (-3.5 Points)

This will be the second meeting between the Kings and the Jaguares after the Jaguares scored a dominant 73-27 victory over the Kings when they met earlier this season.

This has not been a season to remember for either side, but the Jaguares will still start this game as clear favourites, despite having lost seven of their past eight games.

The Jaguares have won just two of their four games as favourites this season, while they are a shocking 1-5 against the line in this scenario.

The betting statistics of the Kings are not any better – they are yet to win a game as home underdogs and their record against the line in this situation is just 1-4.

I am not willing to back either of these teams and this is a match that I am more than happy to stay out of from a betting perspective.

Recommended Bet: No Bet

This is another very big game in the New Zealand Conference.

The Crusaders returned to winning form with a professional performance against the Waratahs last weekend and they are clear favourites to beat the Blues for the fifth time in a row.

The Crusaders are 3-0 as away favourites in the past 12 months and they have lost just a single game as the punter’s elect across this time period, while they are 6-3 against the line.

The Blues were far from impressive against the Force and they may have won four of their past five games, but they are unable to match it with the best teams in the competition.

They have won just one of their past six games as home underdogs and they are a poor 2-4 against the line in this scenario.

The Crusaders should prove far too strong for the Crusaders and they are a great bet to cover the line of 8.5 points.

Recommended Bet: Back The Crusaders To Beat The Line (-8.5 Points)

This will be the first ever meeting between the Brumbies and the Sunwolves and the Canberra-based franchise are dominant favourites to record a big win over the Japanese side.

The Brumbies go into this game on the back of professionals wins over both the Bulls and the Rebels, but their record as favourites in the past 12 months is far from convincing and they are 3-4 against the line as home favourites.

The Sunwolves were far from disgraced against the Reds last weekend, but they are still yet to win a game as away underdogs and still have just the one win on their record.

They are 2-2 against the line as away underdogs, but the line of 28.5 points seems just about right and this is another game that I am not particularly keen to bet into.

Recommended Bet: No Bet

This will be the second meeting between the Stormers and Cheetahs this season after the Stormers beat the Cheetahs 20-10 at Toyota Stadium earlier in the year.

The Stormers suffered a narrow loss to the Bulls last weekend and they have not won a game for over a month, but they will still start this game as dominant favourites.

The Stormers have been a losing betting proposition in just about every metric in the past 12 months and they have won just four of their past eight games as home favourites, while they are 3-5 against the line in this scenario.

The Cheetahs went on the bye following their win over the Kings, but they have very little left to play for this season.

The struggling side have won just one of their past 11 games as underdogs and they are 4-7 against the line when being given a start.

This is another match that the market has gotten just about right and there is no value on offer in any betting markets.

Recommended Bet: No Bet

The Lions have now kicked clear at the top of the South African Conference and they can maintain that position with a victory over the Bulls.

The Lions have lost just six of their past eight games, while the Bulls returned to winning form last weekend against the Stormers after an unsuccessful tour to Australia.

The market cannot split these two teams and there are arguments to be made for both sides.

The Bulls have won four of their past six games at home and generally play well at Loftus Versfeld, but the Lions have an identical record away from home and have been a very profitable betting team on the road.

The Lions have been a winning play for us all season long and they have the talent to win again this weekend.

Recommended Bet: Back The Lions To Win @ $1.91

The Rebels and Force met in the opening round of the 2016 Super Rugby season and the Rebels recorded a comfortable victory, which the Rebels are expected to do again this weekend.

The Rebels have lost three games on the trot, but the Force are the weakest side that they have faced in some time and the Force have won just one of their past eight games.

While the Rebels are a safe bet as favourites – they are 4-1 in this scenario – they don’t have a great record against the line when giving away a start and they are 1-3 against the line as home favourites.

The Force have actually won two of their past five games as away underdogs for a narrow profit and their record against the line in this scenario is a credible 3-2.

The Force have beaten the line in three of their past four games against the Rebels and they can do the same again this weekend.

Recommended Bet: Back The Force To Beat The Line (+9.5 Points)